Data analysis

As each of the data collection methods was aimed at a particular area of the re-search, it was possible to tally similar answers to similar questions. Then the answers were categorised into themes, which helps to identify the most relevant materials from a large text of answers. The main issues raised by initial in-depth interviews also helped me to identify the key themes, which my observation needed to consider.

One of the respondent groups for the postal questionnaire was the voluntary or-ganisations in the London Borough of Newham. The majority of these oror-ganisations have engaged their service users and members in a variety of ways. These organisations have used different engagement methods of which the most popular were special con-sultation events, surveys, open days, workshops, information stalls and users forums. A total of 56 voluntary organisations (44% of the 126 contacted) completed the question-naires, representing a wide range of activities and interests among the residents of Newham. The majority of these respondents were working for young and older people, families, refugees, lone parents, homeless people and other community groups (see Ta-ble 4). There were a few agencies working with people with mental health proTa-blems, substance misuse, the unemployed and carers. From the respondent organisations 34 (69%) were members of a local or national umbrella organisations (e.g. Newham Vol-untary Sector Consortium, or London Citizens) while the rest did not belong to any um-brella groups.

Table: 4. Organisations responding to the postal questionnaire by the type of their service users.

Organisation Service Users Total number of organisation

As far as the legal status of the organisations is concerned, 34 (69%) were regis-tered charities, 11 (22%) were both regisregis-tered charities and limited companies by guar-antee while 2 (4%) organisations were associates of a national organisation. However, there were 8 (16%) organisations who were constituted but not registered. The partici-pating organisation had been in existence for between 1 year and 125 years, the average being 26 years. The annual budget also varied from organisation to organisation. A total of 20 (41%) of the organisations had an annual budget in excess of £250,000, while 15 (30%) of the organisations had a budget of less than £50,000. The rest 13 (26%) had a budget between £50,000-£250,000 per annum.

In summary, (as shown the Table 5.) the overall strategy hangs together as follows (as a sequential approach to mixed methods research):

a) a pilot phase comprising:-

i) the statistical analysis of the small area data on Newham which helped me to select my study area and to see the local conditions in Newham in the wider London context,

ii) an initial key informant survey to identify important issues about participa-tion as seen by respondents on the ground.

b) a more extensive survey phase, using semi-structured and unstructured surveys (questionnaires and interviews) to collect information on perceptions of a wide range of stakeholders in the Newham regeneration areas that were studied, compris-ing:-

i) an extension of the 'key informant' survey to include more informants in a wider range of agencies and organisations in the local system;

ii) an attempt to use a door to door survey to collect 'lay views' from members of the public who may not belong to any of the voluntary interest groups I have covered in the study (although the response rate was very low, I at-tempted to survey a relatively large number; the small sample meant I only obtained selective impressions of public opinion among local residents);

iii) a survey of all the voluntary groups I have been able to identify representing community groups in Newham (not all of which replied, but which provided a reasonably large sample).

c) observation of participation processes on the ground to explore how my impres-sions of participation compared with the views of my informants.

The different elements in (b) and (c) were used as part of a triangulation strategy to get a good understanding of participative processes from different points of view.

Table 5. – Summary of data collection process

Type of data Source Purpose How does it inform this

the-sis

- to establish the changes and trends of the demographic

- the scope and level of public and patient participation and

- to explore their views of how effective regeneration in Newham has been;

- to gather views on impacts, and problems of public and commu-nity participation and social net-working in Newham regeneration;

- to explore views on “ideal”

practices of participation and - The need for mixed research methods to reach as many

- to identify the level and types of public and community

participation in the London Borough of Newham

- to explore gaps in the levels and types of participation practices

- The extent to which participation is seen to be con-tributing or not concon-tributing to local regeneration activities - The participation level of the public in localised

Organisation

and faith group representatives and elected councillors.

survey about their views of public participation and social

- covers details of the type, levels, problems and

- to identify the style and level of participation in representative settings against other forms of direct participatory activities in Newham.

- the styles, purpose, the individual and group

dynamics and structure of the participatory activities

I have lived in different parts of Newham for more than fifteen years. I have worked half of these years in Newham in a Community Development role. I have wit-nessed many aspects of change. Consequently, I was aware that I may be positively or negatively influenced by my past and current experience while doing this research. I was also clear that my male gender and black ethnicity may have some influence.

McDowell and Sharp (1997) argued that in some circumstances researchers are pre-cluded from gathering certain types of information because of their gender or ethnicity.

This was anticipated to be the case in my situation as a male and black researcher.

However, it was also anticipated that I may be well placed in this particular research project due to my previous professional background or as a resident of the area. There-fore, I regularly assessed my research position to assess whether my gender, ethnicity or residence had any negative or positive influence in gathering information which was of vital importance to my research. Generally, my previous knowledge of people in the

study area was helpful in order to access their time or to gain the information I needed.

However, I did not compromise ethical issues due to my position in the research set-tings, as is discussed in the next section.